The International Olympic Committee (IOC) recommends sports bodies conclude a program for vetting Russian athletes for neutral status. This change comes as preparations begin for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
This decision aligns with the IOC’s earlier guidance from two months ago. Athletes from Belarus, an ally of Russia in the conflict with Ukraine, should compete with full national identity.
The IOC stands in solidarity with the Olympic community of Ukraine, which the Olympic movement has supported since the beginning of the war, and will continue to do so,
the IOC emphasized following an executive board meeting.
Revised policies now allow Russian athletes easier participation in IOC events. The IOC provisionally lifted the Russian Olympic Committee’s suspension imposed in October 2023. The suspension was due to the incorporation of regional sports councils from occupied Ukrainian regions into the Russian Olympic body.
Russian and Belarusian athletes participated minimally at the 2024 Paris Olympics. Only 32 athletes competed and secured five medals. In contrast, Russia sent over 300 athletes to the 2021 Tokyo Olympics, earning 71 medals. The IOC has not yet decided on allowing Russian athletes to compete under their flag and anthem, deferring the decision to a later time.
The next IOC-sanctioned event is the 2026 Youth Summer Games in Dakar, Senegal, starting on October 31. To regain confidence from the global sports community, the IOC stipulates rigorous anti-doping measures for Russian athletes. They must undergo multiple doping tests and participate in recognized testing programs.
The IOC reiterates its decision not to organize events in Russia or involve Russian state officials in its activities.
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